Mayor agrees to two election debates

Gregory Lewis, OF THE EXAMINER STAFF

Published 4:00 am, Friday, August 27, 1999

1999-08-27 04:00:00 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- Mayor Willie Brown has agreed to participate in at least two campaign debates with former Mayor Frank Jordan and Clint Reilly, but his challengers aren't completely happy.

"While we welcome the mayor's participation in the debate, we want to make it clear that this is not a substitute for a well-publicized, well-televised debate at a later date," said Tom Pier, spokesman for Reilly, a former campaign consultant who runs a commercial real estate company.

"I am delighted the public succeeded in changing the mayor's mind (about debating)," Jordan said. "I hope he doesn't show up and take the Fifth Amendment on all the issues. . . . I want a hard-hitting, forthright, open debate. It's what the citizens of San Francisco deserve."

No interest in debating&lt;

"The . . . story wasn't really accurate. He never said he wouldn't debate. He said he would prefer to talk to voters one-on-one rather than do a lot of debates."

Four years ago, the three top mayoral candidates - Brown, Jordan and former Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg - participated in 67 forums or debates before community groups, Democratic Party organizations and civic clubs in the five months leading to the November election. At least three of the debates were televised.

Johnston said Brown will not participate in many debates this year but "he has agreed to at least these two and potentially others."

The grumbling has begun about which candidates have been invited to participate.

A group of second-tier candidates, who have met to talk about joint strategy in an attempt to oust Brown, have been excluded from the Wallenberg-Richmond clubs debate.

None of the dark horses&lt;

"I gave the Wallenberg Club a hard time," Reid said. "I complained that they want the three old horses and none of us dark horses. They should invite at least one of us. Maybe, there should be a lottery for the dark horses."

Jordan lost to Brown in the 1995 election. Reilly was Jordan's campaign manager at that time.

Alan Fox, vice president of the Wallenberg Club, said his group had invited only Brown, Jordan and Reilly because the other candidates "have very little chance of winning" and "we had to keep the debate manageable."

Fox added, "I think Jim Reid is a great guy. If we had a fourth seat, we'd probably invite him but we have to draw a stopping point. We stopped it at three. We can't have all 14 candidates."

Reid said the invited candidates have all had chances to solve The City's problems and failed.

"So where's the new stuff going to come from with these three," Reid said. "One is a political advisor to the other two, who had a chance and failed to solve problems." &lt;